AMBU Bag Full Form

Full Form: Artificial Manual Breathing Unit (Also known as: Bag Valve Mask / BVM)

What is an AMBU Bag? • A hand-held emergency device used to deliver positive pressure ventilation • Used when a patient cannot breathe on their own • The rescuer squeezes the bag to push air (or oxygen) into the patient's lungs • Can be used with or without supplemental oxygen

Components: • Bag (self-inflating) — squeezed by the rescuer • Valve — prevents exhaled air from re-entering the bag • Mask — covers the patient's nose and mouth • Oxygen reservoir (optional) — for delivering high-concentration O₂

When is it Used? • Cardiac arrest (before intubation) • Respiratory failure • During surgery (when patient is not breathing independently) • Emergency pre-hospital care (ambulance) • Neonatal resuscitation (smaller size for newborns)

Key Facts: • One rescuer squeezes the bag while another holds the mask (two-person technique is preferred) • Delivers approximately 500–600 mL of air per squeeze (adult) • AMBU A/S = Danish company; founded 1956 in Copenhagen • BVM is the more technically correct term; AMBU is colloquial • Available in 3 sizes: adult, paediatric, neonatal

Related Medical Terms: • Intubation — inserting a tube into the trachea • Ventilator — mechanical device for long-term breathing support • CPR — Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation